The final international break of the year is behind us, meaning the Premier League now roars back into focus as we head into the chaos of the festive schedule.
This weekend’s marquee matchups include the North London derby between leaders Arsenal and Tottenham, Newcastle’s clash with Manchester City, and Nottingham Forest’s bid to win away to Liverpool at Anfield for the second season running. While Man United host Everton under the Old Trafford lights on Monday night.
Here are the key stats you might see in Gameweek 12.
Stats you might see
Garnacho on for a century
- Alejandro Garnacho can become the youngest ever South American player to make 100 Premier League appearances.
Alejandro Garnacho started to sparkle for Chelsea before the international break with a return of two goals and two assists in four matches in all competitions.
A £40m purchase from Man United in the summer, Garnacho is now starting to repay the fee and will be looking to continue his fine form away to Burnley this weekend.
If, as expected, the Argentine plays at Turf Moor, he will, at 22 years and 144 days old, overtake Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli as the youngest South American player to make 100 Premier League appearances.
New manager bounce
- If new Wolves boss Rob Edwards wins his first game in charge, he will have won more Premier League matches this season than Vitor Pereira (0 in 10 games).
Wolves are the only Premier League side yet to record a win this campaign, collecting just two points from their opening 11 fixtures. Vitor Pereira was dismissed after 10 of those matches, with caretakers James Collins and Richard Walker then overseeing a 3-0 defeat at Chelsea in their sole outing.
Edwards’ appointment – a controversial move given he left Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough, who sit 2nd – now gives him the chance to make an instant impact at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Mo milestone
- If Mo Salah scores or assists then he will have been directly involved in more league goals for Liverpool (277) than any other player has for a single side in Premier League history.
Mo Salah is set to make his 300th Premier League appearance for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest. In the process he will become the the fifth player to reach that figure for the Reds, after Jamie Carragher (508), Steven Gerrard (504), Jordan Henderson (360), and Sami Hyypia (318).
If Salah marks that milestone with a goal or assist he will become the player with the most goal involvements (277) for a single club in Premier League history, surpassing Wayne Rooney’s tally for Manchester United (276).
Black Cats soaring
- If Sunderland win, their new tally of 22 points will be the most by a promoted side in the opening 12 games of a Premier League season since Wigan Athletic (25) in 2005/06.
Few, if any, would have predicted that new boys Sunderland would be 4th come November’s international break. Most had the Black Cats as dead certs for a swift return to the Championship.
However, Regis Le Bris’ side have surpassed all expectations so far this term, during which they’ve won at Stamford Bridge and held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw.
Should they beat struggling Fulham at Craven Cottage, they will enhance their points tally to 22, which would be the most by a promoted side in the opening 12 games of a Premier League season since Wigan Athletic in 2005/06 (25).
In the process, they would have already matched their total number of wins (6) from their last Premier League season in 2016/17.
Thiagoal
- If Igor Thiago scores, he will set a new Brentford record for the most goals in the first 12 games of a Premier League season.
Brentford have developed a reputation for unearthing prolific forwards, from Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins. The latest name on that list is Igor Thiago, who has scored eight goals in 11 games this season, a total bettered only by the relentless Erling Haaland (14).
Thiago, who netted twice against Newcastle before the international break, will be aiming to extend his impressive run when Brentford travel to Brighton this weekend. A goal on Saturday would see the Brazilian set a new club record for the most goals scored (9) in the first 12 games of a Premier League season.
Nuno on a mission
- Nuno Espirito Santo is on a mission to secure his first win against Andoni Iraola while leading West Ham to three consecutive league victories for the first time in two years.
West Ham have shaken off the shackles to win their last two games and now go in search of a third straight league win for the first time since December 2023.
To do so, Nuno Santo must overcome Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, against whom he has yet to claim a victory in four meetings (D2 L2). Only against Jurgen Klopp has Santo faced more Premier League matches without a win (seven times).
Breaking the Howe-doo
- Eddie Howe is desperate to break a long-standing hoodoo as he seeks his first ever Premier League win over Pep Guardiola.
Newcastle and Man City head into Saturday’s showing in contrasting form. The Toon have lost three of their last four games, while City have claimed five wins from their last six.
To make matters worse for Newcastle, history doesn’t favour them either, with the Magpies winning only one of their last 35 Premier League meetings with Man City.
On top of that, Eddie Howe has never beaten Pep Guardiola in 17 Premier League clashes, losing 14.
Can the spell be broken this weekend?
Emery’s unbeaten streak
- Unai Emery aims to stretch his remarkable unbeaten run against newly promoted sides to 18 games with Aston Villa.
Five wins from six games has fired Aston Villa up to 6th in the table and, if results go their way, they could end the weekend as high as 3rd.
Next up for Villa is a trip to Leeds who have lost four of their last five games, leaving Daniel Farke under-fire in the Sack Race.
Unfortunately for Leeds, Villa’s own boss Unai Emery has a pretty formidable record against newly promoted sides, having gone unbeaten in all 17 games while in charge of Villa, of which he’s won 13.
Gunning for glory
- Arsenal can win four straight league games against Tottenham for the first time ever in the Premier League.
Arsenal’s 10 game winning run in all competitions was halted by a spirited Sunderland last time out, but the Gunners will fancy their chances of beating North London rivals Spurs this weekend.
Arsenal have claimed 16 of the last 18 points in this fixture and have won the last three meetings in a row. A fourth consecutive league victory over Spurs would be historic; the last time the Gunners managed four straight wins in the league against their rivals was over 37 years ago, in 1988, predating the Premier League era.
Man Utd aim for No. 43
- If Manchester United beat Everton, they will have 43 Premier League games against the Toffees, the most wins any side has against another in the competition.
Manchester United have now gone five league games unbeaten, picking up 11 points in the process, which has seen them jump above rivals Liverpool in the table.
Next up is Everton, a fixture they have dominated, winning 42 Premier League matches against them. A win on Monday would not only set a new record for most wins against a single opponent but also mark their first run of five consecutive home league wins since August 2023.